2017 Mid-Ohio - World Challenge

The 2017 Pirelli World Challenge season is the twenty-eighth consecutive year for the championship. There are five race weekends. The Grand Touring category title chase kicks-off in March at Saint Petersburg. This event is followed by races at Long Beach, Road America and Mid-Ohio. The finale takes place at Sonoma in mid-September.

As in the previous year, there were three Grand Touring categories:

Grand Touring (GT) – This is the series quickest class and includes cars that predominantly fall into the FIA GT3 category. These are two-wheel drive vehicles that may use normally aspirated or turbocharged engines which produce approximately 500 horsepower. Examples of cars competing in this category include: Porsche 911 GT3 R, Nissan GT-R Nismo GT3, Mercedes AMG GT3, McLaren 650S GT3, Cadillac ATS-V.R GT3, Acura NSX GT3, Bentley Continental GT3 and Ferrari 488 GT3.

Grand Touring Sportsman (GTA) – This class includes the same vehicles as GT, however, the drivers are not considered professionals. Competitors in this category are evaluated after each event and based on their performance may be elevated to the GT class.

Grand Touring Cup (GTC) – The GT Cup class was originally for 2015-2016 Porsche 991 GT Cup cars. It now includes vehicles from other spec series – the Lamborghini Super Trofeo and Ferrari Challenge championships.

Rounds six and seven of the 2017 Pirelli World Challenge Grand Touring season took place during the Grand Prix of Mid-Ohio presented by Honda Racing. Twenty-three cars competed in the two fifty-minute races around Mid-Ohio’s 2.258-mile thirteen-turn road course.

The first lap of Sunday’s event and the pole-sitter, Patrick Long in the Wright Motorsports prepared Porsche 911 GT3 R leads the field into ‘The Carousel’. Behind the GT point’s leader is the McLaren 650S GT3 of Alvaro Parente. Parente was gridded fourth but when his teammate, Bryan Sellers spun on the pace lap he inherited third and a pass on Kyle Marcelli gave him second. He got by Long and went on to take the win.

Alvaro Parente entered Mid-Ohio second in the GT Driver standings – seventeen points behind the leader, Patrick Long. By the end of the weekend, the driver of the No. 9 K-PAX McLaren 650S GT3 had closed the gap to within five markers. Parente’s two victories at Mid-Ohio should give him the momentum he needs to challenge Long for the title in the series finale at Sonoma.

The GT Cup class was poorly subscribed - only two entries – the Lamborghini Huracan Super Trofeo of Japanese driver, Yuki Harata and from Serbia, Marko Radisic racing a Ferrari Challenge Evo. The category point’s leader, Preston Calvert, chose to participate in GTA this weekend. Harata dominated rounds five and six – starting from the pole, setting the fastest race and taking a pair of victories. He now led the standings.

Patrick Long driving the Wright Motorsports prepared Porsche 911 GT3 R entered Mid-Ohio with the points lead. Contributing to his place at the top of the standings were victories at round two (St. Petersburg) and five (Road America). At Mid-Ohio, Long started and finished the weekend’s first event in fifth place. The following day he was on the pole and captured the runner-up spot. Long maintained the point lead heading into the finale.

The GTA leader, James Sofronas, had a good weekend at Mid-Ohio. When Alec Udell was promoted to the GT category, Sofronas moved to the top in the class standings. He increased his gap over Audi driver, John Potter with victories at Long Beach and Road America. Despite pressure from Michael Schein, he won both rounds at Mid-Ohio. Sofronas’ championship lead increased from eighteen to thirty-three points.

Four-time series champion, Johnny O’Connell was gridded third for round six. The driver of the No. 3 Cadillac ATS-V.R maintained his position to the checkered flag. On Sunday, O’Connell’s fastest lap from the preceding day gave him the sixth starting position. O’Connell was fourth when he made contact with a hard charging Alec Udell at ‘The Keyhole’ and spun. He fell down the order but was able to finish eleventh.

A personal commitment prevented, Michael Schein from participating in rounds four and five at Road America. Despite runner-up finishes in the first three events, his absence for two races left him fourth in the GTA standings. At Mid-Ohio, he challenged James Sofronas for the victory but was second both days. However, Schein’s performance moved him to within ten-points of third place, Tim Pappas.

Based on his performance in the first two rounds, Alec Udell was promoted from the GTA class to GT. Udell entered Mid-Ohio seventh in the title chase – nine-points behind Bryan Sellers. In the weekend’s first race, he started eleventh in the GMG Racing Porsche 911 GT3 R and finished eighth. Sunday went much better for Udell as he captured the final spot on the podium and was now tied with Sellers in the standings.

GTA competitor, Tim Pappas drove the No. 54 Mercedes AMG GT3. To date, Pappas’ best result was a third in the previous rounds at Road America. In Saturday’s race, he started fourth in class and was battling with Pablo Perez Companc for third. When Perez Companc spun the pressure was off and he took the final podium position. On Sunday, the same scenario was playing out but Pappas spun on the last lap and finished fifth.

Cadillac ATS-V.R driver, Michael Cooper was, leading SprintX standings with his co-driver, Jordan Taylor. In the GT category, Cooper was fourth after five rounds – just a single point behind his teammate, Johnny O’Connell. At Mid-Ohio, his results were mixed. On Saturday, Cooper captured the runner-up spot and the following day he was seventh. However, his finishes moved him to third - ahead of O’Connell.

Argentinian, Pablo Perez Companc drove the No. 69 Mercedes AMG GT3 prepared by Champ 1. To date, Perez Companc had only competed in two races – round two at St. Petersburg and the third event in the championship at Long Beach. He showed great promise at Mid-Ohio. Perez Companc battled with Tim Pappas for third on Saturday but a spin dropped him to last in class. He rebounded the following day and was third in GTA.

Sunday’s GTA podium at the Mid-Ohio Sports Car Course. On the right, driving a Wright Motorsports prepared Porsche is second place finisher, Michael Schein. To the left and earning his podium finish of the season is Pablo Perez Companc. In the center is point’s leader, James Sofronas, who like Alvaro Parente and Yuki Harata, left Mid-Ohio with two victories.

FINISH	CLASS	DRIVER	ENTRANT / CAR	LAPS
1	GT Pro	Alvaro Parente	K-PAX Racing / McLaren 650S GT3	36
2	GT Pro	Michael Cooper	Cadillac Racing / Cadillac ATS-V.R	36
3	GT Pro	Johnny O'Connell	Cadillac Racing / Cadillac ATS-V.R	36
4	GT Pro	Bryan Sellers	K-PAX Racing / McLaren 650S GT3	36
5	GT Pro	Patrick Long	Wright Motorsports / Porsche 911 GT3 R	36
6	GT Pro	Kyle Marcelli	Ferri Motorsports / Ferrari 488 GT3	36
7	GT Pro	Ryan Dalziel	CRP Racing / Mercedes AMG GT3	36
8	GT Pro	Alec Udell	GMG Racing / Porsche 911 GT3 R	36
9	GT Pro	Daniel Mancinelli	TR3 Racing / Ferrari 488 GT3	36
10	GT Pro	Ryan Eversley	RealTime Racing / Acura NSX GT3	36
11	GT Pro	Jon Fogarty	Gainsco/Bob Stallings Racing / Porsche 911 GT3 R	36
12	GT Pro	Spencer Pumpelly	Magnus Racing / Audi RS 8 LMS	36
13	GT Am	James Sofronas	GMG Racing / Porsche 911 GT3 R	36
14	GT Am	Michael Schein	Wright Motorsports / Porsche 911 GT3 R	36
15	GT Am	Tim Pappas	Black Swan Racing / Mercedes AMG GT3	36
16	GT Am	John Potter	Magnus Racing / Audi RS 8 LMS	36
17	GT Am	Jorge De La Torre	De La Torre Racing / Aston Martin Vantage GT3	36
18	GT Pro	Peter Kox	RealTime Racing / Acura NSX GT3	36
19	GT Pro	Preston Calvert	Calvert Dynamics / Porsche 911 GT3 R	35
20	GT Cup Am	Yuki Harata	Dream Racing / Lamborghini Huracan	34
21	GT Am	Mike McCann	McCann Racing / Audi RS 8 LMS	29
22	GT Am	Pablo Perez Companc	Champ 1 / Mercedes AMG GT3	24
23	GT Cup Am	Marko Radisic	Precision Driving / Ferrari Challenge Evo	15

FINISH	CLASS	DRIVER	ENTRANT / CAR	LAPS
1	GT Pro	Alvaro Parente	K-PAX Racing / McLaren 650S GT3	36
2	GT Pro	Patrick Long	Wright Motorsports / Porsche 911 GT3 R	36
3	GT Pro	Alec Udell	GMG Racing / Porsche 911 GT3 R	36
4	GT Pro	Kyle Marcelli	Ferri Motorsports / Ferrari 488 GT3	36
5	GT Pro	Daniel Mancinelli	TR3 Racing / Ferrari 488 GT3	36
6	GT Pro	Peter Kox	RealTime Racing / Acura NSX GT3	36
7	GT Pro	Michael Cooper	Cadillac Racing / Cadillac ATS-V.R	36
8	GT Pro	Ryan Eversley	RealTime Racing / Acura NSX GT3	36
9	GT Pro	Ryan Dalziel	CRP Racing / Mercedes AMG GT3	36
10	GT Pro	Bryan Sellers	K-PAX Racing / McLaren 650S GT3	36
11	GT Pro	Johnny O'Connell	Cadillac Racing / Cadillac ATS-V.R	36
12	GT Am	James Sofronas	GMG Racing / Porsche 911 GT3 R	36
13	GT Am	Michael Schein	Wright Motorsports / Porsche 911 GT3 R	36
14	GT Am	Pablo Perez Companc	Champ 1 / Mercedes AMG GT3	36
15	GT Pro	Jon Fogarty	Gainsco/Bob Stallings Racing / Porsche 911 GT3 R	36
16	GT Am	John Potter	Magnus Racing / Audi RS 8 LMS	36
17	GT Am	Tim Pappas	Black Swan Racing / Mercedes AMG GT3	36
18	GT Am	Jorge De La Torre	De La Torre Racing / Aston Martin Vantage GT3	35
19	GT Am	Mike McCann	McCann Racing / Audi RS 8 LMS	35
20	GT Pro	Spencer Pumpelly	Magnus Racing / Audi RS 8 LMS	35
21	GT Cup Am	Yuki Harata	Dream Racing / Lamborghini Huracan	34
22	GT Pro	Preston Calvert	Calvert Dynamics / Porsche 911 GT3 R	34
23	GT Cup Am	Marko Radisic	Precision Driving / Ferrari Challenge Evo	33